While I was researching the history of Goa and the places to visit, I was quite surprised to learn that one of the very few temples dedicated to Devaki Maa and Krishna Bhagwan is in Goa. If you happen to search for the temple, it will indicate that it is situated in the town of Marcel within the Ponda taluka. But delving deeper into the history, you will discover that the original temple is actually located on Chorao Island. The Portuguese had destroyed the original temple. At that time, the devotees relocated the deities of Devaki - Krishna, Laxmi Ravalnath, Bhumika Devi, Mallinath, Chodaneshwar, Katyayani, and Dhada Shankar from Chorao Island to Mayem and then to finally Marcel Village.
Learning about this temple was reason enough for me to make a trip to Chorao Island. So, one fine morning in Panjim, I decided to visit Chorao Island. I rented a scooty in the morning and headed straight to the Island.
Chorao is a quiet island in the Mandovi River and is one of the largest among the other 17 islands in Goa. It took me almost half an hour to reach the Island from Panjim. To reach the island, I had to take the ferry from a point, and it was technically my first ferry ride, so I was quite excited about it. As I stood on the ferry and looked up at the scenic view, a cool breeze swept through me, offering a much-needed sense of relief. At that moment, I felt like a joyful child, finding excitement in every small thing. It was so relaxing!
By the time I was able to breathe in all the fresh air, we had reached the island. As soon as I stepped off the ferry, I spotted the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary to my left. So, I parked my scooty to the side and walked to the counter to purchase the tickets. I was informed that the bird sanctuary was closed because it was off-season. I walked out with a sense of disappointment. And in case you are wondering who Dr. Salim Ali is, he was a renowned naturalist and ornithologist. He is famously known as the "Birdman of India." He conducted systematic bird surveys throughout India and wrote several books on birds.
Then, I hop on the scooty and head towards the temple that I had been longing to visit on the island. The Shri Devaki Krishna Bhumika Mallinath Temple. I removed my shoes at the front and went inside the temple right during the aarti. The priest looked quite amazed to find a visitor who was not from Goa alone visiting the temple. His look made it clear. Being extremely interested in knowing about the temple, I initiated a conversation with him, and he was excited to share his knowledge with me. As he spoke, I learned about the temple's rich history and how his ancestors and other devotees had to flee the island to protect the deities. The island's original Konkani name, as he mentioned, was Chodan or Chudamani and according to legend, it emerged when a handful of diamonds of Yashoda Maa, Lord Krishna's mother, were thrown away into the sea. According to him, currently, only a few Brahmin households reside on the island, whereas previously, they had constituted the majority of the population.
After engaging in a lengthy conversation with him, I said my goodbyes. I walked out of the temple premises and rode my scooter to explore other scenic spots around the island.
While riding my scooty around the island, I came across countless picturesque spots that compelled me to make several stops along the way. Although the island has few tourist attractions, it is a must-visit for nature lovers who can spend hours admiring the beautiful landscapes. I spent hours just sitting there, walking around, admiring the lush greenery.
Next on my list was to visit the St Bartholomew Church. In 1510, the Portuguese reached the island and instantly became smitten by its beauty. The island's original name was shortened to Chorao for the sake of easier communication. And in just two years, they succeeded in converting more than 300 individuals to Christianity, the island's population was 3000. After some time, a small church was established and Chorao had its first bishop in 1560.
The Jesuits of the island founded and built the St. Bartholomew Church in 1969. The church showcases the magnificence of the Mennerist Neo-Roman architectural style. The Church is dedicated to St. Bartholomew, one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles.
After visiting the church, I still had plenty of time to explore the island, thus I decided to ride my scooty all the way to Mayem Lake. As I spotted a temple close to the lake, I couldn't resist the urge to visit it. Taleshwar Mahadev is worshiped at the temple, and he is believed to be the guardian deity of the village. The temple was closed, so I just admired its architecture from the outside.
And in case you didn’t know, Mayem Lake is one of the few places where you can go bungee jumping in India. Despite my initial excitement to try bungee jumping, I hesitated for too long and finally opted out. I just should have gone bungee jumping, no?
Having spent some time by the lake, my hunger had peaked, and I thought of looking for a hotel to eat at while en route to the ferry rides back to Panjim. Unfortunately, most of the hotels were closed. So, I made a couple of stops along the way to fully take in the beauty of the place before returning to catch the ferry ride. And I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to live on such a beautiful island. A wonderful life, surrounded by lush greenery, far from the hustle and bustle of city noise? Or do the residents feel like they're missing out on the excitement of city life?
Places to see on Chorao Island
Shree Devaki Krishna Temple
Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Chapel of St. Jerome
St. Bartholomew’s Church
Bhagwati Temple
Fort of Naroa & St. Bartholomew Fort
Go all out and explore the different spots to bird watch and various small temples around there.
How To Reach Chorao Island
You can take your scooty or car from Panjim to Ribandar Ferry point, and the ferry will drop you to the island. The ferry ride is free for the public.
Alternatively, you can take a bus from Panjim to Ribander Ferry.
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Disclaimer: All the pictures posted in this post are clicked by me. Please do not use it without due credits :)
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